Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 43, Issue 4 573-576, Copyright © 1977 by American Physiological Society
Spontaneous activity and heat avoidance of mice
H. Murakami and K. Kinoshita
Experiments were conducted with eight female mice on the avoidance of heat
stress over the ambient temperature range from 25 to 34 degrees C.
Significant avoidance behavior of the animals was observed at Ta = 30
degrees C, becoming more noticeable as the ambient temperature was raised.
When exposed to heat, the animals showed peaks of avoidance during the
second half of the dark period. This result seemed closely related to the
spontaneous activity pattern of mice which reached a maximum between 1800
and 2000 at each experimental temperature. In this experiment, mice were
more apt to choose a comfortable place during their inactive period than
during their active period. This hypothesis on the relation between mice's
heat avoidance and spontaneous activity was supported by the results of an
additional experiment conducted in a cold environment of Ta = 18 degrees C.
